Why Supplemental Insurance?

The cost of medical care has risen enormously during the past few years.  We hear that Congress will do this or that to help offset these costs and that Medicare will be bolstered in order to help seniors or individuals with disabilities cope with the situation.

Unfortunately, the debate rages on while Medicare recipients are often choosing between medical care, medicine and basic needs of life such as food and gasoline.

There can be some relief, however, in the form of Medicare Supplemental Insurance.  This insurance is designed to pay for some of the things that basic Medicare does not pay for.

It is important to do your homework when trying to decide which Supplemental Insurance is right for you.  There are various plans and various organizations that offer Medicare Supplemental Plans, and though many of the plans are similar – and some are exactly the same – the price for them varies greatly from company to company.
The same exact plan can cost twice as much from one company as it does from another.

What can you do to be sure you are getting accurate information?  First, check the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov.  This will give you accurate information about the basic coverage you have and possible supplemental coverage.  Another place to check is the Medicaid website at www.medicaid.gov.  There are circumstances under which you may qualify for coverage from Medicare and Medicaid, which is called “dual coverage.” 

From there, enlist the help of family or friends who you feel could be knowledgeable about Medicare and Supplemental Insurance.  You can also call the phone numbers on the websites listed above and get your questions answered, as well as a list of policies, companies and coverage.

The main thing to remember is that Supplemental Insurance is designed to fill in the gaps that Medicare does not pay.  Take the time to explore your options so that if you ever end up in a situation where you encounter a high medical expense, you will have something to fall back on and you will understand and feel confident about how all of your coverage works.